Hi all, long time and no see Good to be back.

I am looking at upgrading my graphics card and RAM. While doing research on ram I found out my Motherboard (Asus P5ND2-SLI Series) can only take up to DDR2-667mhz RAM speeds.

My question is this: Is there such a limit on the core clock speeds of a new graphics card? The card I am looking at is the Nividia Gforce 9600GT. There are two versions; one has a core clock speed of 650mhz and the other 720mhz. Here some links for more info:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/VGA/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=VGA&ProductID=2774&ProductName=GV-NX96T512H-B

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/VGA/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=2785 (This is my prefered one and has a clock speed of 720)

The pricing is similar and from what I can tell the only major difference is the clock speed, so I want to know if my motherboad will take it.

My Power supply is 420W so I dont think there is a problem there, and I am running a pentium 4 single core 3Ghz processor. My current card is a Geforce 6600GT so I'm hoping for a big difference in the cards.

Thanks in advance for your advice

Razor
There's no limit on the graphics card clock speeds, no.
You'll also notice a good performance increase from that card - I would say your next upgrade, if your motherboard can take it, should be the CPU.
Hope this helps.Thank you very MUCH Calum, thats a great help, and relief.

Speaking about the CPU, my mother board will take up to a Duel core, but I can only find up to a 2.4 Ghz Duel core in our shops. Would this speed duel core be any faster than a single core 3Ghz?


RazorIt all depends on the actual models of the CPUs you are looking at.
What CPUs will your board actually take?
We can recommend one from there if you like.Thanks Calum
Ok we are starting to go in a little over my knowledge with this stuff.

This is straight from the manual

P5ND2-SLI Series specifications summary

LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium® Processor Extreme
Edition/Intel® Pentium® D/Intel® Pentium® 4/
Intel® Celeron® processors
Compatible with Intel® PCG 05B/05A and 04B/04A
processors
Supports Intel® Enhanced Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)
Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology (EIST)
Supports Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
(Note:Due to chipset limitation, the Intet® Pentium® 0 820
processor works only in single-core mode.)


CPU SECTION in manual

The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA775 socket desigr
the Intel® Pentium® D, Intel® Pentium® 4 and Intel® Celeron® processoi
the 775-land package.

This motherboard supports the Intel® Pentium® Processor Extreme Ed
the latest CPU with embedded dual physical cores and Hyper-Threadir
technology, making four CPU threads possible. Refer to the table belo
the operating system support status.

OS Licensing support list
Intel Dual-Core CP support Intel Dual-core CPU and
hyper-threading Technology support

Windows® 2000 Advanced Server Windows® XP Home

Windows® XP Home Windows® XP PROFESSIONAL

Windows® XP Professional Windows® Server 2003 - Standa~
Enterprise
Windows® Server 2003 - Standard,
Enterprise


•Due to chipset limitation, Intel® Pentium® D 820 processors wc
only in single-core CPU mode.

•Due to chipset limitation, dual-core processors cannot support
Intel® EIST, TM2, and Cl E functions.


•Install a chassis fan with at least a speed of 2400 rpm and 8 Cl
turnrate when using a dual-core CPU to ensure system stability

Overheating can permanently damage the system and/or CPU.
•Install an additional chassis fan to ensure better air flow when
overciocking.

•Upon purchase of the motherboard, make sure that the PnP cai
on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent. Contact y~
retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing, or if you see any
damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard compon
ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipn
transit-related.

•Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will proces
Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) REQUESTS only if the
motherboard comes with the cap on the LGA775 socket.
•The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket
contacts resulting from incorrect CPU installation/removal, or
misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP cap.



I can understand some of this jargon but I still can't tell exactaly what cpu my motherboard will take. It has been suggested to me that I upgrade my Graphics card and Ram as planned then wait a bit and upgrade my motherboard and get a really good CPU rather than being limited to lesser CPU's.

What do you think?From some Google searching, I'd recommend you wait and upgrade your board and CPU at the same time, that board won't take newer CPUs.Ok, thanks heaps Calum, I will do that.

Thanks once again for your advice, it has been most helpful.

Razor